FR2793045A1 - TWO-AXIS ARTICULATED COMPUTER INPUT DEVICE AND OPERATING METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a computer input device (14) articulated to two axes. Position sensors are configured to provide position information and are an indication of a position of two handle members (16, 18) relative to each other.

Description

Two-axis articulated computer input device and method of

operation

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

  The present invention relates to a computer input device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a two-hand computer input device allowing movement

articulated with respect to two axes.

  Many different types of user input devices are currently used to provide user input information to a computer. User input devices of this kind may include, for example, a point-and-click device (conventionally called a computer mouse), a keyboard, a joystick or joystick, and a trackball. User input devices of this kind conventionally all detect the movement of a movable element relative to a fixed base or part of housing and provide the computer with a

  input signal which is indicative of this relative displacement.

  In addition, some current game applications, which run on personal computers or game consoles, are first-person perspective applications. Applications of this kind provide navigation and pointing capabilities which are conventionally obtained (albeit somewhat complex) by

  through a combination of mouse and keyboard manipulation.

  The mouse conventionally controls the point of view (up, down, left, right) and the keyboard offers commands to move position (slide to the left, slide to the right, forward , rearward). The mouse buttons also provide the

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  possibility of "firing" for action games and the keyboard allows you to have many selection options (weapon selection, door opening, zooming, etc.). Using the mouse and keyboard to control these functions is very difficult and requires a relatively non-intuitive combination of finger movement. It can thus be seen that precision movements, aiming, and action commands in a virtual three-dimensional perspective environment for a first person, using current input devices, can be complicated. Games like this or virtual environments like this require very fast movement and also require the ability to quickly change directions in order to navigate labyrinth-shaped corridors and to counter enemy attacks. Aiming and aiming (which corresponds to looking up and down, left or right depending on the perspective view of the first person) are best accomplished with an input device that offers control on a continuous area of movement (as opposed to a discreet button press) like what is available via a mouse or a joystick. Position move control (such as moving forward / backward, or sliding left / sliding right, or elevating) is best accomplished by discrete keystrokes such as this which is offered by certain switch configurations typically found on joysticks, or keyboard buttons or other devices. In addition, certain types of user input devices assign more than 2 degrees of freedom to a single input mode. For example, a broomstick that can be pushed along an X axis and a Y axis has 2 degrees of freedom, while a broomstick that can be pushed along an X axis and the along a Y axis and which can also be rotated relative to its longitudinal axis to provide input to the computer, has 3 degrees of freedom. It has been discovered that this type of user input device (one that provides more than 2 degrees of freedom per input mode) can exhibit a high degree of cross-axis interference. Cross axis interference can be characterized by the fact that a user unintentionally activates a degree of freedom while trying to activate

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  a separate degree of freedom. In other words, it is very difficult to prevent translational movements (moving a joystick along the X or Y axis) while trying to perform a rotational movement (trying to turn the joystick with respect to its longitudinal axis). An interference of this kind between these degrees of freedom is an interference of transverse axes. It is believed that the interference of axes or transverse axial tends to increase in a quadratic way at the same time as

  adds a degree of freedom to any given input mode.

  In addition to mice and keyboards, there are other types of conventional input devices used with gaming applications. A conventional device of this kind used for gaming applications is a gaming pad. However, this device does not does not lend itself well to the maneuver required for perspective games vis-à-vis a first person. In standard button-only and directional pad, there is no way to enter continuous movement. Using game pads with small thumb sticks (a thumb stick) continuous entry is possible but the thumb stick is not positioned for intuitive movement, and the user has to fight against the force back towards the center of the thumb stick, making precision aiming difficult. The thumb stick is also tiring for groups

  small muscles in the hand and thumb.

  The broomsticks use the arm and wrist muscles which do not offer the fine motor control ability of smaller muscle groups. Conventional joystick configurations also have a continuous movement device (the joystick) and a discrete movement device (a hat switch or "hatswitch") which must be operated by the same hand. This makes it difficult to control such trips precisely. In addition, the joystick and the hat switch both have spring forces of

  back to the center that interfere with precision aiming.

  Another input device is sold under the Space Orb 360 brand. This device offers six degrees of freedom which are manipulated by one hand. This makes the device extremely difficult to use, without intensive training or an innate biomechanical ability to isolate one or more

  two axes of the others which are controlled by the device.

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  Similarly, a device sold under the Cyberman II brand offers six degrees of freedom to be manipulated by a single hand. This input device encounters the same difficulties as those described in the

previous paragraph.

  Another input device is sold under the Wingman Warrior brand. This device is a joystick having a free rotation button for rotation only. This device does not meet many basic needs for success in a gaming environment.

  perspective for a first person.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

  The present invention provides a two-axis articulated computer input device. Position sensors are configured to provide position information indicative of a position of two elements one

compared to each other.

  According to one embodiment, the elements are handles and one of the handles represents a perspective view for a first person on a display device. The handles are movable relative to each other in a plurality of behavior zones which affect a different display on the display device. According to one embodiment, the displacement in a first behavior zone creates absolute displacements of the perspective view for the first person on the display device. Moving into a second behavior zone causes the perspective for the first person to move

  continuously rather than absolutely.

  In another embodiment, tactile feedback is provided to a user as the user transitions between the areas. Tactile feedback can, for example, be

  a change in resistance to displacement.

  The present invention also provides an input device having advantages from the point of view of ergonomics. Travel shapes and areas are provided to help reduce fatigue. In addition, data structures are provided for use in transmitting location information to a computer. Data structures are formed and processed using methods and devices

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advantageous.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

  Figure 1 is a block diagram of a computer system in which the input device according to the present invention can be used. Figure 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a computer which can be used with the input device according to

the present invention.

  Figures 3A to 3C illustrate absolute position detections

  in accordance with one aspect of the present invention.

  Figure 4A is a graph illustrating speed and absolute position control in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. Figure 4B illustrates an absolute zone and a speed zone

  in accordance with one aspect of the present invention.

  Figure 5 is a high level block diagram of a

  input device according to one aspect of the present invention.

  FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a package

  of information produced by the input device illustrated in Figure 5.

  Figure 7 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of the input device shown in Figure 5 by producing a

information package.

  FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram illustrating the processing of an information packet according to one aspect of the

present invention.

  Figures 9A to 9C are block diagrams illustrating the processing of an information packet in accordance with one aspect of the

present invention.

  Figure 10 is an exploded view of an input device

  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

  Figure 11 is an enlarged view of part of the device

  shown in Figure 10.

  Figures 12A to 14C illustrate a cam arrangement

  in accordance with one aspect of the present invention.

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  Figures 15 to 17 illustrate certain ergonomic features

  according to one aspect of the present invention.

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

ILLUSTRATION DATA

  Figure 1 is a diagram partially in drawing form and partially in block diagram partially of a system 10 according to an aspect of the present invention. The system 10 comprises an input device 14, a computer display device 15 and

a computer 20.

  It goes without saying that, in an embodiment given by way of illustration, the device 14 can be implemented in the form of any input device (such as a broom handle), comprising a handle or part of it movable relative to another part of

  this one. However, for the sake of simplicity, the present description is

  continues by referring to the embodiment given by way of illustration of the

  device 14 illustrated in FIG. 1.

  The computer input device 14 according to an aspect of the present invention is provided with first and second elements 16 and 18 forming a handle respectively. Elements 16 and 18 are dimensioned for

  fit in the user's hand and are movable relative to each other.

  According to an embodiment given by way of illustration, the elements 16 and 18 are connected by a connection indicated generally in the figure by the reference numeral 22. The connection 22 allows the element 18 to be articulated with respect to to the element 16 in a swerving direction (or a direction going from one side to the other along the X axis) generally designated by the arrow 24. The connection 22 also allows by way of illustration of element 18 being rotated in a direction of pitch (or from bottom to top along a

  Y axis) in a direction generally indicated by arrow 26.

  These displacements and the link 22 are described in more detail later.

  in the description. In addition, the computer input device 14 comprises at

  title of illustration of the position sensors which detect the position of

  element 18 with respect to element 16.

  According to an embodiment given by way of illustration of the present invention, the computer input device 14 is

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  also provided with a network of buttons 28. According to an embodiment given by way of illustration, the network 28 comprises four buttons on the element 18 and three additional buttons (including a shift key) on the element 16. In addition, the computer input device 14 is provided with a multiple switch input device 30 (such as a steering pad or a hat switch) and one or more trip devices 32. FIG. 1 also illustrates that the elements 16 and 18 of the computer input device 14 may also include parts 34 and 36 of oblong handles which extend downwards and away from the button network 28

  and are sized to fit the user's hand well.

  The computer input device 14 includes a controller that receives information that is an indication of the various input devices with multiple buttons, triggers, and switches, as well as position sensors, and produces an information packet which is an indication of this information. The information packet is sent to computer 20 (an embodiment of which is described in more detail in Figure 2). The computer 20 by way of illustration includes an application program, such as a game or other program which uses the information in the packet from the input device 14. The computer 20 operates to provide the information in the packet from the input device 14 to the application program running on the computer 20, which uses the information to manipulate an object that is displayed on a device 15 display. In an illustrative embodiment, the computer 20 is a personal computer, and the display device 15 can be any type of display such as a CRT-type monitor (including television display devices, liquid crystal diode display devices, plasma display devices and so on). According to alternative embodiments, the computer 20 can also be a dedicated computer, such as one of the many dedicated gaming computers manufactured by Nintendo, Sega, Sony and others, or a control or simulation computer. dedicated. Some of the computers like this

  are sold under the designation Sega Dreamcast and Sony Playstation.

  Obviously, the information packet supplied by the computer input device 14 to the computer 20 can be used by the computer 20 (and the application program which runs on it) to control other

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  objects, other than a display device. However, the present invention will be described mainly with regard to the control of the device 15

  for the purpose of simplification.

  With reference to FIG. 2, an environment given by way of example for the invention comprises a general-purpose computer device in the form of a conventional personal computer 20, comprising a processing unit 38, a memory 39 of system, and a system bus 40 which interrupts various system components including system memory at processing unit 38. The system bus 40 can be any of several types of bus structure including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus and a local bus using any of a variety of architectures. bus. The system memory includes read only memories (ROM) 41 and a random access memory

  (RAM) 42. A basic input / output system 43 (BIOS), containing the sub-

  basic program which assists in the transfer of information between elements inside the personal computer 20, such as during startup, is stored in the ROM 41. The personal computer 20 furthermore comprises a device 44 for hard disk drive for reading from a hard disk and writing to a hard disk (not shown), a magnetic disk driver 45 for reading from a removable magnetic disk 46 and / or writing to a removable magnetic disk 46, and an optical disk driver 47 for reading a removable optical disk 48 or writing to a removable optical disk 48 such as a CD ROM or other optical media. The hard disk drive 44, the magnetic disk drive 45 and the optical disk drive 47 are connected to the system bus by a hard drive interface 49, an interface 50 d magnetic disk attack and an optical attack interface 51 respectively. Attacks and associated computer readable media provide non-volatile storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and

  other data for the personal computer.

  Although the exemplary environment described herein uses a hard disk, a removable magnetic disk 46 and a removable optical disk 48, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that other types of media that can be read by computer that can store data

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  which are accessible by a computer, such as magnetic tapes, flash memory cards, digital video discs, Bernoulli cartridges, random access memories (RAM), read only memories (ROM) and the like can also be used in the operating environment given as an example. A certain number of program modules can be stored on the hard disk, the magnetic disk 46, the optical disk 48, the ROM 41 or the RAM 42, comprising an operating system 52, one or more application programs 53, other program modules 54 and program data 55. A user can enter instructions and information into the personal computer through

  input devices such as a keyboard 56 and a pointing device 57.

  Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, a joystick, a game pad, a satellite disc, a scanner or the like. These input devices as well as other input devices are often connected to the processing unit 38 via an interface 58 which is coupled to the system bus 40. The interface 58 can include a number of different interfaces, such as a sound card, a parallel port, a game port or a universal serial bus (USB). The screen or monitor 16 or another type of display device is also connected to the system bus 40 via an interface, such as a video adapter 59. In addition to the monitor 16, personal computers can conventionally include other peripheral output devices such as

  speakers and printers (not shown).

  The personal computer can operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more

  multiple remote computers, such as a remote computer 60.

  The remote computer 60 can be another personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other network nodes, and conventionally have many or all of the elements described above with respect to the personal computer 20, although only a memory storage device 61 has been illustrated in FIG. 2. The logical connections described in FIG. 2 comprise a local area network (LAN) 62 and a network serving wide areas (WAN) 63. Network environments of this kind are very common in offices,

  computer network intranet in a business and the internet.

  When used in a LAN environment, the personal computer 20 is connected to the local network 62 via an adapter 64 or network interface. When used in a WAN network environment, the personal computer 20 conventionally comprises a modem 65 or other means intended to establish communications on the network 63 serving large areas, such as the Internet. Modem 65, which can be indoor or outdoor, is connected to the system bus 40 via the serial port interface 58. In a network environment, program modules described with respect to the personal computer, or parts thereof, can be stored in the remote memory storage devices. It goes without saying that the network connections shown are given by way of example and that other means for establishing a communication link between the

  computers can be used.

  When the computer 20 is a dedicated computer, the specific architecture may be different from that illustrated in FIG. 2. The differences however are not of great consequence. All such computers contain a mechanism for running computer software and / or hardware which receives information from the input device 14 and uses the information received to modify the behavior or appearance of the software and / or equipment. Often this results in a change which is visible

on a display device.

  Figures 3A to 3C illustrate position detections in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. In FIG. 3A, the computer input device 14 is shown in relation to a display on the display device 15. Figure 3A illustrates that the display is only part of a three dimensional virtual environment which can be displayed on the display device. The element 18 being in a substantially central position relative to the element 16, along both the axes of rotation X and Y, the part of the environment in three dimensions

  which is displayed is a central part of the perspective view

  first person screw as shown in Figure 3A.

  However, FIG. 3B represents a top view of a computer input device 14 illustrating the fact that the element 18 can be rotated in the direction of the X indicated by the arrow 24, relative to the element 16, and generally with respect to an axis of rotation 102. If the device 14 is used as a joystick, pivoting with respect to the axis 102 may correspond for example to a displacement of the handle broom in a side to side manner. As the element 18 is rotated relative to the axis 102 in a certain area determined in advance of movement, the computer input device 14 forms the information packet including information which are an indication of the relative position of the element 18, in relation to the element 16, around the axis 102. This information can be used by the computer 20 (and an application which runs above) to control the

  point of view displayed on the display device 15.

  For example, as the element 18 rotates relative to the axis 102 within the range determined in advance of displacement, the point of view may, by way of illustration, be so corresponding shifted in the direction indicated by arrow 104 in Figure 3B. As the element 18 is articulated anticlockwise with respect to the axis 102, the point of view can be shifted towards the position indicated by the reference numeral 100A in the Figure 3B. Similarly, as the element 108 is articulated in the direction of clockwise with respect to the axis 102, the point of view can be shifted towards the position 100B illustrated in Figure 3B. In this way, an absolute movement of the element 18 relative to the element 16 is directly mapped into an absolute movement from the point of view which is displayed, as illustrated in FIG. 3B. Obviously, this same type of mapping can be accomplished when the device 14 is implemented in another way, such as a joystick. Figure 3C illustrates a side view of a computer input device 14. FIG. 3C illustrates the fact that, in an embodiment given by way of illustration, the element 18 of the computer device 14 not only can be articulated with respect to the axis 102 (represented in FIG. 3B), but can also be rotated relative to the axis 106, in the Y or pitch direction indicated by the arrow 26. When the device 14 is a broomstick, the rotation relative to the axis 106 corresponds to the displacement

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  from the joystick in a way from front to back (or from back to front). As the element 18 is moved in the direction of pitch in the direction indicated by the arrow 26, as long as it remains within the range determined in advance of displacement, the perspective vis-à-vis -vis the first person displayed on the display device 15 is moved correspondingly in the direction indicated by the arrow 108. For example, as the element 18 is rotated in an opposite direction of the hands d 'a watch (with reference to Figure 3), the perspective vis-à-vis the first person shifts upward towards the position designated by the reference numeral 1 00C in Figure 3C. Similarly, as the element 18 is rotated relative to the axis 106 in a direction in the direction of clockwise (again with reference to FIG. 3C) the perspective vis-à-vis -vis the first person displayed on the display device 15 is shifted downwards, such as towards the position generally designated by the reference numeral 100D. Thus, as long as the element 18 is rotated relative to the axis 106 within the range determined in advance of displacement, the absolute displacement of the element 18 relative to the element 16 can be mapped to the absolute displacement of the perspective vis-à-vis the first person displayed on the display device 15. This same type of mapping can be performed when the device 14 is implemented as in

  example in the form of a broomstick.

  Obviously, the absolute displacement of the element 18 with respect to the element 16, either with respect to the axis 102, or with respect to the axis 106, can be either directly mapped, or be scaled up or down to provide absolute movement of the perspective vis-à-vis the first person displayed on the display device. For example, five degrees of rotation of the element 18 relative to either the axis 102 or the axis 106 may correspond to 20 degrees of rotation of the perspective view for the first person in the virtual environment which is displayed on the display device 15. Any desirable scaling factor, (to

  the inclusion of 1: 1) can be used.

  If the element 18 is moved beyond the predetermined range of displacement relative to either the axis 102 or the axis 106 (or if the joystick is moved from one side to the other side or forward or toward

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  the rear beyond the predetermined area of displacement), a displacement of this kind is no longer mapped to the absolute displacement or absolute position of the perspective view for the first person who is displayed on the device 15 d 'display. Instead, this movement is illustrative of a continuous movement of the perspective view for the first person. For example, if the element 18 is articulated with respect to the axis 102 in the direction indicated by the arrow 24 (represented in FIG. 3B) by an amount which exceeds the range determined in advance of displacement, then the perspective view for the first person will appear to be continuously rotating in the direction of movement of the element 18, until the element 18 is brought within the range determined in advance of movement . This is illustrated

  in more detail in Figures 4A and 4B.

  FIG. 4A illustrates a range of displacement (in degree of rotation) with respect to either the axis 102 or the axis 106, which is provided as a function of the physical force opposing a rotation of this kind such that 'It is felt by the user, according to an embodiment given by way of illustration. The displacement domain is shown as being divided into three different domains or zones 110, 112 and 114 of behavior, although more zones or fewer zones with different profiles can be used as well. As the user turns the element 18 inside the domain 110 (which according to an embodiment given by way of illustration is between approximately plus or minus 30 degrees relative to a central neutral position , but any desired domain can be used, and the domain can be asymmetrical with respect to the neutral position if desired), the user by way of illustration perceives a viscous fluid displacement, with a constant and slight resistance displacement over the entire area 110. However, a return force towards the center can also be provided in the zone 110. As soon as the user turns the element 18, in one direction or the other, beyond the borders of the zone 110, the By way of illustration, the user encounters a different resistance to displacement, such as an increasing force. Therefore, as the user rotates the element 18 beyond about the range of movement by +30 degrees, and in the range 112 for example, the user encounters increasing physical resistance to movement as and when

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  as the user continues to rotate element 18 throughout its entire positive range of motion (for example up to about +40 degrees). Of

  similarly, as the user turns the element 18 over

  beyond about -30 degrees from the neutral position, to enter zone 114, the user encounters increased resistance to continuous rotation in zone 114 in its complete range of movement (for example up to approximately - 40 degrees). It goes without saying that any or all of the zones can be configured with a return force to the center as well. In addition, other stepped or non-linear force profiles can also be used in any or all of the zones. The force can increase and then decrease inside any zone. In addition, the central area 110 does not need to have a constant force profile. An ever increasing linear force profile is shown in the external areas and a constant linear force profile

  is shown in the central area for illustration purposes only.

  According to an embodiment given by way of illustration, the force profile illustrated in FIG. 4A is obtained by using a cam and cam follower arrangement which is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 12A to 14C, which will be described later. However, any other arrangement can be used if it achieves the desired force profile. For example, extension or compression springs, fluid dampers, aerohydraulic systems, or other assemblies or elements

  variable resistance loads can be used.

  FIG. 4B illustrates different behavior zones (for example absolute displacement and speed zones) in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. Figure 4B will be described in conjunction with Figure 4A and Figures 3A to 3C. FIG. 4B gives the pitching displacement (the displacement along the Y axis) of the element 18 relative to the axis 106, and the swerving displacement (the displacement along the X axis) of the element 18 with respect to the axis 102. The curve of FIG. 4B is divided into three control bands or zones 116, 118 and 120 of behavior, respectively. Obviously, one can also use more or less behavior zones. The behavior zones are given with respect to axes which represent the pitching displacement (displacement along the Y axis) of the element 18 relative to the axis 106 and the displacement

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  swerve (displacement relative to the X axis) of the element 18 relative to the axis 102 when the device 14 is a joystick, behavior zones of this kind correspond to a displacement towards the back / forward and side to side movement of the joystick respectively. The behavior zone 116 is a central strip which generally represents the centered or neutral position in the range of movement of the element 18 relative to the element 16. It goes without saying that the central control band 116 can be represented by a single single point or a small group of points in Figure 4B, or by a large group of points. The behavior zone 118 is an absolute positioning control strip which corresponds to the domain determined in advance of the displacement 110 relative to the axes 102 and 106. The behavior zone 120 represents a speed control strip corresponding to the displacement of the element 18 in one direction or the other

  beyond the domain determined in advance of the displacement 110.

  While the control strips can behave in a similar way with respect to the rotation of the element 18 with respect to the axis

  102 or to axis 106, the present description will continue only in

  which relates to the rotation of the element 18 relative to the axis 102, in order to simplify. As the user moves the element 18 relative to the element 16 around the axis 102, inside the zone 118, the device 14 provides information to the computer 20 which is an indication of the relative position of the elements 16 and 18 and, in the embodiment in which the display device 15 displays a virtual environment for a game, the computer 20 causes the perspective view for the first person to shift absolutely, either to the left or to the right, in the same direction as the rotation of the element 18 with respect to the axis 102. Consequently, if the user turns the element for example by +5 degrees to the axis 102, to the central strip 116, the computer 20 causes the perspective view for the first person to shift a predetermined distance to the right, as illustrated in Figure 3B. It goes without saying that the displacement of 5 degrees of the element 18 can correspond either to the same amount of displacement of the perspective view for the first person, or to an amount of displacement

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  different. However, the absolute displacement of the element 18 is mapped directly by way of illustration to an absolute displacement of the view in

  first person perspective.

  When the movement of the element 18 relative to the axis 102 leaves the behavior area 118 and enters the behavior area 120, the absolute movement of the element 18 is no longer mapped to the absolute movement of the view in perspective for the first person. Instead, the movement of the element 18 in the zone 120 establishes a continuous movement of the perspective view for the first person in a direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of the element 18 relative to the axis 102. In other words, if the user turns the element 18 in a clockwise direction with respect to the axis 102 in the area 120, the perspective view for the first person illustrated in the Figure 3B will begin to rotate to the right. As long as the user maintains the element 18 in a fixed position inside the zone 120, the perspective view for the first person will continue to turn towards the

straight at a constant speed.

  According to an embodiment given by way of illustration, the area 120 is divided into a plurality of sub-control strips. Consequently, as the user turns the element 18 relative to the axis 102 even more in the area 120, the element 18 moves in the sub-control bands and the perspective view for the first one

  no one will spin at an even higher speed in each zone.

  Thus, the velocity profile in zone 120 increases in a stepwise fashion with

  as element 18 is moved in the sub-bands

  ordered. Similarly, according to an embodiment given as an alternative, the velocity profile of the area 120 can be represented by an increasing linear function or a non-linear growth function (for example exponential or quadratic) or a linear function or nonlinear which is not continuously increasing but first increases then flattens or decreases. The shape of the speed profile can also be selected or adjusted by the user. In this case, the user may have an opportunity to select from a variety of different predetermined profiles or

  to tailor the profile by specifying a profile shape.

  It goes without saying that, as the user turns

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  the element 18 even more in the area 120, it also meets by way of illustration a physical resistance to increased rotation relative to the axis in the device, as illustrated by the range of displacement 112, in the force profile illustrated in Figure 4A. Thus, the higher speed is intuitively coupled with the increased physical resistance to give the user tactile feedback regarding the speed corresponding to a given rotation in the speed zone. Obviously, it should also be mentioned that other force profiles (for example more strenuous or less inclined, non-linear, stepwise, etc.) can also be used for the zones. In these cases, tactile feedback (force profile) may or may not be configured to generally match the profile

of speed.

  As the user begins to rotate the element 18 in a direction anticlockwise with respect to the axis 102, back towards the border between the behavior zones 118 and 120 , the speed at which the perspective view for the first person rotates the speed profile in this direction. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the speed at which the perspective view for the first person rotates decreases. The transition from zone 120 back

  to area 118 can be treated in a number of different ways.

  For example, it may be desirable to have the element 18 placed in the neutral center or position 116, when one leaves the control strip 120, before an absolute positioning begins again. In this case, as the user turns the element 18 anticlockwise with respect to the axis 102, the border between the zones 118 and 120

  can be moved to coincide with the border between zones 118 and 116.

  The perspective view for the first person will thus continue to rotate at a decreasing speed until the element 18 has rotated relative to

  the axis 102 of the entire rotation to the border of the central area 116.

  Then, the border between the zones 120 and 118 is restored to its initial position (represented in FIG. 4B) and the user can start again the absolute positioning inside the zone 118 as described previously. In another embodiment given by way of illustration,

  the transition from area 120 to area 118 is treated differently.

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  In this embodiment, as the user rotates the element 18 counterclockwise and crosses the border of the area 118, the user simply encounters a dead area, in which no movement of the perspective view of the first person is perceived as long as the user continues to rotate the element 18 anticlockwise, up to the interior of the central zone 116. In other words, as the user turns the element 18 anticlockwise with respect to the axis 102 beyond the border of the zone 120, at the inside zone 118, the perspective view for the first person will stop rotating, and will not move at all, even if the user continues to rotate the element 18 in zone 118 in the direction of the central area 116. Once the user has refocused the element 18 to be inside the area 116,

  normal positioning begins again.

  Furthermore, according to an alternative embodiment, the element 18 does not need to be centered inside the zone 118 to control the switching. In other words, as soon as the element 18 has returned from the zone to the zone 118, the command for absolute displacement begins again. Furthermore, the boundary at which this takes place can be set to substantially any desired point within the range of motion. It should also be noted that this point can be selected or adjusted by the user. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the user input device 14. Figure 5 illustrates that the user input device 14 includes a controller 124, X and Y position sensors 126 and 128, a calibration circuit 130, button network switches, switches trigger and switches corresponding to the multi-switch input device 30 (all designated collectively by the reference numeral 132) and a

circuit 134 for zone calibration.

  The sensors 126 and 128 X and Y can be rotation potentiometers. Obviously, the sensors 126 and 128 can be other types of sensors, such as mechanical or optical encoders, capacitive sensors, electromagnetic sensors, etc. When the sensors 126 and 128 are potentiometers, the sensor 126 as

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  Illustrative comprises a resistance part coupled to the element 16 and a brush part coupled to the element 18 (or vice versa). Consequently, as the element 18 is rotated relative to the pitch axis 106, the resistance value of the potentiometer which implements the sensor 126 changes. Similarly, the sensor 128 by way of illustration comprises a resistance part coupled to the element 16 and a brush part coupled to the element 18 (or vice versa). Consequently, as the element 18 is turned relative to the axis 102, the resistance value of the potentiometer which implements the sensor 128 changes. In this way, the sensors 126 and 128 provide a signal which is an indication of the position of the X's and

  Y (pitch and swerve) of element 18 relative to element 16.

  Similarly, when the device 14 is a joystick, sensors 126 and 128 can be any conventional sensor arrangement used to detect lateral to lateral or front / rear movements of the joystick. An arrangement of this kind is described in United States Patent Application No. 5,694,153 which is

  incorporated here for reference.

  The signal from sensors 126 and 128 is sent to an analog to digital A / D converter 136. In the embodiment

  given by way of illustration, the converter 136 is in one piece with the micro-

  control device 124. Obviously, other discrete A / D converters can also be used. The 136 A / D converter converts analog sensor signals from sensors 126 and 128 into

  digital signals which are supplied to the control micro-device 124.

  In order to calibrate the sensors 126 and 128, the computer input device 14 is placed by way of illustration in a test device which can be manipulated to turn the element 18 into positions making known angles in a manner precise with respect to element 16. When one is in the precisely known angle values, the values output by the sensors 126 and 128 are adjusted (for example by balancing)

  to desired values using the sensor calibration circuit 130.

  According to an embodiment given by way of illustration, the circuit 130 is a balancing potentiometer circuit arranged to balance or finely adjust the output values of the sensors 126 and 128. Other circuits

  either hardware or software can be used as well.

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  Some examples include physically reorienting an optical encoder, providing programmable power, or providing a digital offset after the signal has been converted to

digital form.

  The switches 132 for the button network, the triggers and the hat switch, according to an embodiment given by way of illustration, simply comprise a network of switches which supply signals which are an indication of their closure to the micro-device 124 control. Therefore, when any of the buttons in the array 28 or triggers 32 or the buttons associated with the hat switch 30 are pressed, those buttons and triggers cause a switch closure which is

  detected by the microcontroller 124.

  Zone calibration circuit 134 is used to adjust (such as by balancing or very fine adjustment other) the zone boundaries between the absolute positioning zone and the speed positioning zone (described with reference to zones 118 and 120 shown in Figure 4B). For ergonomic or other reasons, it may be desirable for the complete range of displacement relative to both

  X and Y axes either to a maximum of approximately plus or minus 40 degrees.

  In this case, the outputs of the sensors 126 and 128 are adjusted so that the maximum signal output by the sensors corresponds to the maximum range of displacement (or stroke) of the element 18 relative to the element

  16 with respect to the appropriate axes.

  Similarly, it may be desirable to precisely calibrate the transition between zone 118 (the absolute position zone) and zone 120 (the velocity position zone) so that the transition between zones corresponds directly to the user's perception of the increased force (as illustrated by the force profile shown in Figure 4A). Therefore, the member 18 is rotated to the boundary position at which the perceived increased force exists, and the value which is then output from the sensors 126 and 128 is set to a desired value. This can be accomplished by placing the computer input device 14 in the test device which is provided with strain gauges or other stress measurement devices, so that the test equipment or device can identify the

21 2793045

  time the user input device 14 has reached the transition between the

  absolute positioning zone and speed positioning zone.

  As in the case of the sensor calibration circuit 130, the zone calibration circuit 134 can be implemented with balancing or fine adjustment potentiometers arranged so as to balance or finely adjust the output of the sensors 126 and 128 at desired levels. Obviously, an alternative calibration (either hardware or software) can be used as well. For example, when the sensors are optical encoders, they can be redirected. In addition, a digital offset can be provided, etc. The microcontroller 124 is also provided with an output suitable for being coupled to the computer 20. According to an embodiment given by way of illustration, the output provided by the microcontroller 124 is provided in accordance with a communication protocol. universal serial bus (USB). Similarly, a USB converter cable can be coupled between the microcontroller 124 and the computer 20 to allow the necessary transmission of data. In another illustrative embodiment, the output for microcontroller 124 is provided in accordance with

  a game port protocol or any other desired protocol.

  FIG. 6 illustrates a data packet 136 which is prepared by the microcontroller 124 and transmitted to the computer 20. Although the data packet 136 can be transmitted to the computer 20 either in series or in parallel, the The substance of the data packet 136 is illustrated in FIG. 6 in the form of 5 bytes with 8 bits of information. Bytes are marked bytes 0 to 4 along the column to the left of packet 136, and bits are

  marked bits 0 through 7 along the top row of package 136.

  The signals from the sensors 126 and 128 are converted by a 136 A / D converter into a digital word having, by way of illustration, a resolution of 10 bits and which is representative of the position of the element 18 relative to the Element 16. Obviously, an 8 bit resolution or any other desired resolution can also be used. The 10-bit resolution data is represented by bits X0-X9 (for sensor 128) and bits Y0-Y9 (for sensors 126). This information is included in packet 136 starting with byte 0, bit position 0 and ending with

  ends with byte 2, bit position 3.

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  Based on the values from the 136 A / D converter, the microcontroller 124 can determine whether the user has rotated the element 18 to bring it into the speed control area 120 or whether the element 18 is still in the zone 118 of absolute positioning. The bits ZBX and ZBY located in the byte 2 bit positions 4 and 5 respectively correspond to a determination according to which the element 18 is in the absolute positioning zone or the speed positioning zone. For example, if the ZBX bit is set to 0, this corresponds to the fact that the element 18 is in the absolute positioning zone in the X direction (or swerve direction). If this bit is set to 1, this indicates that the element 18 has been rotated with respect to the axis 102 beyond the range of displacement determined in advance, in the speed zone. The value indicated by bits X0-X9 then indicates whether the element 118 is in the speed zone on the positive or negative side of the neutral. The ZBY bit in byte 2 bit position 5 corresponds to the rotation of element 18 in the Y direction (or by

  in relation to the axis 106 of steps) in a similar manner.

  Bit positions 6 and 7 in byte 2 are not used.

  The bits B0-B6 located in byte 3, bit position 0 to 6, are an indication of the closing state of the switches corresponding to the buttons in the button network 28. The signals TO and T1 residing in byte 3, bit location 7 and byte 4 bit location 0 respectively, are an indication of the state of closing of the

  switches associated with triggers 32.

  Bits 1, 2 and 3 in byte 4 are not used.

  In byte 4, bit locations 4 to 7, values are

  provided and represent the state of the multi-switch device 30.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the device 30 is a hat switch. Therefore, the bits in the associated bit locations are marked H0-H3. The following table illustrates the position of the switch.

  30 hat represented by bits H0-H3.

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  H3 H2 Hi1 HO Position 0 0 0 1 0 degrees 0 0 1 0 45 degrees 0 0 I 1 90 degrees 0 1 0 0 135 degrees 0 1 0 1 180 degrees 0 1 1 0 225 degrees 0 1 1 1 270 degrees 1 0 0 0 315 degrees 0 0 0 0 No hat switch pressed

Table 1

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the formation of the packet 136 by the microcontroller 124 shown in FIG. 5. The controller 124 receives and filters the position information X and Y. This is indicated by block 138. During filtering position information X and Y, the controller 124, according to an embodiment given by way of illustration, oversamples and smoothes the data received from the sensors. This data can be sent to a logical filtering system implemented in the controller 124. The logical filtering system can by way of illustration use low-pass filtering techniques to eliminate large spikes or which are an aberration. Once the data has been received and filtered, it is stored in the controller 124 (or an associated memory) for a

  subsequent creation of 136 data packets.

  The controller 124 also periodically interrogates the network 132 of switches associated with the buttons, triggers and hat switch, to obtain the data associated with switches of this kind. The information from switches 132 is also to

  illustration title subject to oversampling and anti-treatment

  jitter to improve signal strength. This is indicated by block 140.

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  The controller 124 then determines, on the basis of the position information coming from the sensors 126 and 128, whether the input device 14 is in the speed zone relative to the X axis. This is indicated by block 142. If this is the case, the controller 124 sets the ZBX bit in the packet 136 located in byte 2 bit position 4. This is indicated by block 144. Next, the controller 124 determines whether the input device 14 is in the velocity zone relative to the Y axis. This is indicated by block 146. If this is the case, the controller 124 sets the ZBY bit in the packet 136 located at byte 2 bit position 5. This is indicated by block 148. The controller 124 then assembles the rest of the packet 136, as indicated by block 150, and transmits the packet to computer 20, in accordance with

  appropriate protocol, as indicated by block 152.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the reception and processing of the packet 136 on an embodiment given by way of illustration of the computer 20 which is a personal computer. In other embodiments when, like those in which the computer is a dedicated computer, the processing may be somewhat different, but will have similar results. Figure 8 illustrates the computer input device 14, bus level layers 153, a first bus driver 154, a remapping device 156, an application interface 158, and a layer 160 d applications that can be built

  of one or more applications 162, 164 and 166. Before describing the

  operation of the system illustrated in FIG. 8, it goes without saying, according to the conventional USB protocol, that devices can be classified as a human interface device (HID). In addition, a functional device object (FDO) can contain data-related information, indicating to the next program module or device how the data is to be processed. FDOs are primarily converters that convert raw data into what a recipient module or device expects to see. Physical Device Objects (PDOs) are objects that contain data and have associated processes that can be

  called by a recipient device or module to access the data.

* Filter device objects (FIDO) are objects that can examine the data, and based on certain settings (such as settings in the register) determine what needs to be done with the data in order to place it

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  in a form in which they can be used by recipients.

  The FDO, PDO and FIDO are all classic objects that are well known

technical specialists.

  In operation, the device 14 first assembles a packet 136 as described above with regard to FIGS. 6 and 7. The packet then passes through layers 153 of bus level on the computer 20. The layers 153 of level buses are standard USB layers that act to receive and transfer data up in the

  processing stack up to the first bus attack device 154.

  The first bus driver 154 is a driver which is looped by a HIDCLASS driver looper. The packet received from the input device 14 is, according to one embodiment

  given by way of illustration, a broomstick type data packet.

  Other data packets (eg mouse, keyboard, etc.) could be used as well. Therefore, the first bus driver 154 contains an FDO which identifies the packet as a joystick type data packet and creates a joystick PDO and sends the information to the created PDO. The joystick PDO then sends the information up in the stack towards the device 156 of

remapping.

  The remapping device 156 is a program module, an exemplary embodiment of which is called GCKERNEL.SYS, which creates objects required by the possible recipient applications in an application layer 160. For example, as the information in the package 136 comes into the computer 20 in the form of a joystick package, and as many game applications require that viewpoint information be transmitted by manipulations of mouse and / or keyboard, the remapping device 156 determines whether the joystick information should be remapped into a mouse and / or keyboard PDO for use

  subsequent in application layer 160.

  The remapping device 156 contains FIDOs 170 which receive the information from the PDO 155 in the first bus attack device 154. The FIDO 170s are generally illustrated in the cut-away part of FIG. 8. The FIDO 170 receives the information at the inlet port or port 172

26 2793045

  and sends it to a correct PDO. FIDO 170 then determines whether this type of

  entry class was assigned or not. This is indicated by blocks 174 and 176.

  If no such assignment has been made, this indicates that the recipient application and the application layer 160 simply expect to see the information in the form of broomstick information, and the information is sent directly via FIDO 170 to the outlet port or port 178, where it is transmitted (as indicated by

  arrow 180) to the application layer 160.

  However, if in assignment block 174 an assignment of this particular type of input class has been made to a mouse packet, the FIDO 170 sends the information to the mouse curve filter 182 which creates a PDO of mouse with the appropriate data contained therein. A virtual mouse PDO of this kind is indicated at 184 in the remapping device 156. The mouse PDO is then sent to the interface 158

  application which is described below.

  In addition, if FIDO 170 determines that the recipient application in the application layer 160 expects to see the information in the form of a keyboard manipulation, the information is provided to a macroqueue 186 which assigns keys keyboard to button depressions. This creates a virtual keyboard PDO, illustrated by the reference numeral 188 in the remapping device 156. The information is then again sent to the output port 178 where it is transmitted to

the application interface 158.

  In the case where the joystick type data packet received from the device 14 is effectively converted into a virtual keyboard or virtual mouse PDO, it is supplied to the application interface 158. The application interface 158 (also designated according to an embodiment given by way of illustration under the term HIDSWVD.SYS) creates a PDO which contains the information in a particular form for keyboard or keyboard data.

  mice that are expected by application layer 160.

  Consequently, the remapper 156 operates so as to separate data received via a conduit (eg, the joystick conduit) from other conduits (eg, the mouse and / or mouse conduits). keyboard). This allows the remapping device 156 to mask the joystick data in the form of

27 2793045

  keyboard or mouse data, or a combination of both, depending on the particular application in the application layer 160 that is expected

to receive.

  The remapping device 156 also serves another function. The remapping device 156 examines the data and determines whether the data indicates that the element 118 is in the absolute zone or the speed zone, in relation to the element 16. If it is in the absolute zone, the device 156 remap simply sends the application (possibly via an application interface 158) a difference value that represents the difference between a current position and the most recent previous position, and the direction of the offset from to the most recent previous position. The application program in the application layer 160 can then update the viewpoint display (or any other object that is displayed on the display device). Similarly, if the remapping device 156 determines that the element 18 is in the speed or continuous zone, the remapping device 156 sends a predetermined difference value to the application, and continues to send this value as long as packets are received from device 14 and they indicate that element 18 is in the speed zone. Furthermore, of course, as described above, if the speed zone is broken into a number of sub-bands or sub-zones, the variation value can be changed based on the particular sub-zone in which currently resides. item 18. Similarly, if the speed profile has a different shape, as described above, the change value

is determined accordingly.

  FIGS. 9A to 9D further illustrate the operation of the remapping device 156. The remapper 156 first receives a new packet from the device 14. This is indicated by block 190. The remapper 156 then examines the position information in the packet to determine if the element 18 is in the area absolute or the speed zone. This is indicated by blocks 192 and 194. It goes without saying that the same examination and the same determinations are carried out with regard to both the X and Y axes. However, only a single axis will be described in this.

  which relates to FIGS. 9A to 9C, for the purpose of simplification.

  If element 18 is not in the absolute zone, it means that it

28 2793045

  is in the speed zone and the remapper 156 determines a change value based on a current position of the element 18 relative to the element 16, within the speed zone. This is indicated by block 196. This change value is then output to the application layer 160 (perhaps via the application interface 158) as the new position information. This is indicated by block 198. It goes without saying that, when it is determined whether the element 18 is in the absolute or speed zone, the remapping device 158 can apply a certain hysteresis in order to avoid jump in a back-and-forth movement between the speed and absolute zones, when the element 18 is positioned close to the border between the two. That is

  described in connection with Figures 4A and 4B.

  If, at block 194, the remapping device 156 determines that the element 18 is in the absolute positioning zone, the remapping device 156 then determines whether the element 18 has just entered the absolute positioning zone from the speed zone or not. If this is the case, as described with regard to FIG. 4B, the remapping device 156 may wish the user to center the element 18 before actually leaving the speed behavior zone. Consequently, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the remapping device 156 determines, at block 200, whether the element 18 was just previously in the absolute positioning zone. If this is not the case, this indicates that the element 18 has just entered the absolute positioning zone from the speed zone. That being the case, the remapping device 156 moves the border between the absolute positioning zone and the speed zone a little more in the absolute positioning zone to coincide with the border of the central zone 116 illustrated in FIG. 4B. This is indicated by block 202. The remapping device 156 continues to supply values which are an indication of the positioning element 18 in the speed zone until the element 18 is positioned inside of 'a domain determined in advance of nominal center. Knowing that the border between the zones has been moved to the central zone 116, the remapping device 156 determines the change value which must be sent to the application, based on the position of the element 18. This is indicated in block 204. This value is then

29 2793045

  output as new position information to the application layer. This is indicated by block 198. Obviously, as described above with respect to Figures 4A and 4B, a transition between the zones can be treated in many different ways. They are implemented by the remapping device 156 accordingly. When the element 18 is in the absolute positioning zone, and the user does not move it, the actual position information values supplied by the position sensors can fluctuate by several bit positions due to certain tolerances and filtering techniques. If these are recognized by the remapping device 156, the perspective view for the first person being displayed on the display device would tend to undergo jitter or to jump according to a back and forth movement according to these modifications. minor, and inadvertent, location information. Therefore, a classic jitter filter can be used to ignore changes in position information when the magnitude of the change is less

than a threshold level.

  Ignoring changes tends to reduce resolution, however, which results in less smooth control. For example, if the user moves element 18 relative to axis 102 continuously in a clockwise direction, there is substantially no need to use a jitter filter, because each sampled value will be greater than that previously. Therefore, it is not

  necessary to reduce the resolution.

  Therefore, if at block 200 it is determined that element 18 is in the absolute positioning area, and was in the absolute positioning area during the previous sampling interval, the

  remapping device 156 then determines whether a slope flag has come out.

  A slope flag is taken out to indicate a direction of movement of the element 18 relative to the relevant axis o two or more consecutive packets are received, these containing position information indicating that the position of the element 18 has been changed, in the same direction, for two

  or more consecutive sampling periods.

  If so, it indicates that the user has continuously moved element 18 in the same direction for at least two

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  sampling intervals. The determination of whether the slope flag is pulled out is designated by block 206. If the slope flag is not set or pulled out, this indicates that the user has not continuously moved the element 18 in one direction for two or more consecutive sampling intervals. In this case, the remapping device 156 involves the jitter filter (described in more detail with regard to FIG. 9D). This is indicated by block 208. Depending on the output of the jitter filter, the remapping device 156 outputs new position information to the application, as indicated in block

198.

  If, at block 206, the slope flag is out, then the remapping device 156 determines whether the change in the position of the element 18 is in the same direction as the previous slope. If not, this indicates that the user has switched directions of travel. In this case, it may again be desirable to bring into play the jitter filter as indicated by block 208. The determination of whether the change of position is in the same direction as the

  previous slope is indicated by block 210.

  If, at block 210, it is determined that the change in position of element 18 is in the same direction as the previous slope, this indicates that the user has simply continued to move element 18 in the same direction and there is no need to involve the jitter filter and undergo the reduction as a result of the resolution. Consequently, the remapping device 156, in this case, simply outputs the new position information to the application layer 160,

as indicated by block 198.

  Once the new position information has been provided to the application, the application updates the display based on the new data from the XY position fields and the remaining data.

  (such as the depression of any switch in the button network, etc.).

This is indicated by block 212.

  FIG. 9C better illustrates the implementation of the jitter filter.

  When the jitter filter is involved, the remapping device 156 determines whether the change in position from the previous value is greater than a threshold level. This is indicated by block 214. If it is the

31 2793045

  case, this corresponds to a legitimate modification of the position, and the remapping device 156 supplies the new position information to the application layer 160. This is indicated by block 198. However, if at block 214 it is determined that the modification of the position from the previous value is not beyond the threshold value, then the remapping device 156 simply ignore the position change. This is indicated

by block 260.

  FIG. 10 is an exploded view of an embodiment given by way of illustration only of the computer input device 14, better illustrating a certain number of its mechanical characteristics. Figure 10 illustrates the computer input device 14 in a position which is inverted from a normal user position. FIG. 10 illustrates the fact that the input device 14 comprises a lower box 220, and an upper box 222 which are connected together during assembly. The upper housing 222 has a plurality of cavities 224 for receiving thumb contact portions 226 for the buttons in the button array 28. The thumb contact portions 226 in turn cooperate with friction with corresponding plungers 228 which act, when pressed, by closing switch contacts which are located on

  associated 230 printed circuit boards.

  Triggers 32 with finger cooperation are pivotally mounted on uprights 232 which are fixed to the part 222 of the upper housing. The trip devices 32 include extended plungers 234 which, when the trip devices 32 are pressed, cooperate with corresponding switches 236 mounted on printed circuit boards 230. In addition, the cap switch 30 is mounted, through an opening in the upper housing 222, on the shoulder 238. When the cap switch 30 is compressed at various angles (as described with regard to table 1 above. ) the shoulder 238 acts to close one or more switch contact assemblies mounted on the circuit board 240 (in the embodiment illustrated in the figure, the switches are mounted on one side of the circuit board 240

  printed opposite to that shown).

  The connection 22 (or articulation part) comprises a first

32 2793045

  cam assembly 242 and a second cam assembly 244, which are

  both described in more detail in connection with Figures 12A to 14C.

  The cam assembly 242 allows the element 18 to pitch relative to the axis 106, while the cam assembly 244 allows the element 18 to swerve relative to the axis 102. The input device 14 also includes by way of illustration a hollow shaft 246 which extends through the cam assembly 244 and into the cam assembly 242. A harness 248 of cables extends through the hollow part of the shaft 246 and transports signals from the various switches and buttons on the circuit panel 230 on the element 18, back to the circuit panel 230 located on

  item 16 for further processing.

  A sleeve 252 is used to connect the shaft 246 to the potentiometer 260. The sleeve 252 contains a part 254 forming an oblong tongue. The tongue-shaped part 254 is dimensioned to fit tightly in an open upper part of the hollow shaft 246, in order to cooperate by friction with the internal surface of the hollow shaft 246 inside the part upper open. The sleeve 252 also has an opposite end 256 which has an opening dimensioned to receive a brush 258 for rotation of the potentiometer 260 which

  is mounted on the circuit panel 230 which is located in element 16.

  When the sleeve 252 is assembled on the shaft 246, it rotates with the shaft 246 while the element 18 is pitched relative to the axis 106. As the opening 256 in the sleeve 252 cooperates by friction with the brush 258 of potentiometer 260, brush 258 also rotates with shaft 246. This provides a potentiometer signal which is an indication of the displacement of

  element 18 with respect to axis 106.

  Figure 11 is a greatly enlarged view of a portion of the computer input device 14 illustrated in Figure 10. Similar objects are referenced in a similar fashion to those shown in Figure 10. Figure 11 illustrates that a second shaft 266 is coupled to the element 18 and extends upwards (in the view shown in FIG. 11) by the cam assembly 242. The shaft 266 extends upwards through an open part of the shaft 246 and defines the axis 102, with respect to which the element 18 pivots in the direction of the X or swerve. Although hidden by the cam assembly 242, a potentiometer arrangement similar to that described in

33 2793045

  relates to the shaft 246 in FIG. 10, is provided for the shaft 266, so that an electrical signal which is an indication of the position of the element 18 in the direction of the X's is also supplied to the circuit panel 230 (by harness

248 cables).

  FIG. 11 also illustrates that the housing for the element 18 defines within it an opening 270. The opening 270 is large enough to provide a slight clearance between the housing 268 and the annular sleeve 272. The annular sleeve 272 is rigidly coupled to the shaft 246, and rotates with it. According to one embodiment, the annular sleeve 272 and the shaft 246 are molded from one piece to the other. The annular sleeve 272 remains in place while the element 18 rotates relative to its outer periphery. As the annular sleeve 272 extends inwardly, in the housing 18, even when the element 18 is turned relative to the axis 102 over its entire range of movement, the sleeve 272 always remains substantially in the closed position of the opening 270, so that the inside of the

  case 268 of element 18 is not exposed.

  Figure 11 also illustrates that the cam assembly 244 has a closure 274 which has an inner periphery

  dimensioned just larger than the outer periphery of cam 276.

  The cam follower 278 is disposed proximally near the cam 276, and is arranged to rotate with the shaft 246. A spring 280 in compression (illustrated in FIG. 12A) is disposed between the interior wall of the

  closure 274 and an opposite surface of the cam 276.

  Figures 12A to 14C better illustrate the cam assemblies 242 and 244. While the cam assembly illustrated in these figures can also be applied to the cam assembly 242 or the cam assembly 244, for the purpose of clarification, only the cam assembly 244 will be described here. In addition, the orientation of the cam and the cam follower can

  be reversed from what is illustrated.

  FIG. 12A is an exploded view of the cam 276, of the cam follower 278 and of the spring 280 in compression, the closure 274 being removed. Figure 12A illustrates that the cam 276 has a plurality of cam surfaces 282 disposed on a substantially flat portion thereof, opposite to that shown in Figure 12A. Similarly, cam 276 has a shoulder 284 which is just larger

34 2793045

  an outer periphery of the compression spring 280. Consequently, the spring 280 in compression abuts against the cam 276, inside

  of the depression defined by the shoulder 284.

  The cam follower 278 has a plurality of projections 286, which protrude from a substantially flat cam follower surface 288. The cam follower 278 is arranged around the shaft 246 to rotate

with the tree 246.

  Figure 12B illustrates an assembled view of the cam assembly 244, the closure 274 being removed. Figure 12B illustrates the cam assembly 244 in a neutral position, in which protrusions 286 lie between cam surfaces 282. The neutral position corresponds to the fact that the element 18 is inside the behavior zone 110

of Figure 4A.

  Figure 12C is a side sectional view of part of the cam assembly 244 in the neutral position. FIG. 12C illustrates better that, in a neutral position, the spring 280 in compression exerts a force on the cam 276 and the cam follower 278, so that the projections 286 on the cam follower 278 and the cam surfaces 282 on the cam 276 abuts on the substantially flat opposite surfaces. Consequently, when the shaft 246 rotates, the user perceives a substantially constant force created by the friction of the projections 286 and of the cam surfaces 282 which slide along the opposite surfaces under the effect of the force exerted by the spring 280 in compression. According to an embodiment given by way of illustration, the cam 276 and the cam follower 278 are formed from an acetal material sold under the brand Delrin. This material provides a viscous fluid feel with slight resistance to

  displacement, when the two parts slide one above the other.

  Obviously, other materials could also be used for

provide the desired feeling.

  Figures 13A to 13C illustrate a cam assembly 244 in a position rotated for example approximately 30 degrees from the neutral position illustrated in Figures 12A to 12C. Thus, FIGS. 13A to 13C illustrate the cam assembly 244 when the element 18 has been turned over the entire distance in the zone 110 illustrated in FIG. 4A, and begins to be in transition in one of the zones 112 or 114. As he

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  clearly emerges from FIG. 13C, the cam surface 282 and the projections 286 come into abutment directly against each other under the effect of the force of the spring 280 in compression. Consequently, as the user turns the element 18 out of the absolute position zone to enter the speed zone, the user distinctly feels an increase in the resistance to rotation because the surfaces 282 of

  cam and projections 286 cooperate with each other at this time.

  Figures 14A to 14C illustrate a cam assembly 244 in a position in which it has been rotated, for example, approximately 40 degrees from the neutral position illustrated in Figures 12A to 12C. Consequently, this corresponds, for example, to an extreme side of the zone 112 illustrated in FIG. 4B. As illustrated in Figure 14C, the cam surfaces 282 have entered into cooperation with the projections 286 on the cam follower 278, and have been pushed towards each other so that the cam 276 is moved from of the cam follower 278. Obviously, the cam follower 278 is fixed in the vertical direction of the view illustrated in FIG. 14C. Consequently, the cam 276 is forced to move upward, thereby compressing the spring 280. The more the spring 280 is compressed, the greater the resistance force presented by the spring 280. Consequently, when the cam follower 278 has been rotated throughout its range of movement (for example approximately +40 degrees from the neutral position) the spring 280 exerts its maximum force and

  the user thus perceives the greatest resistance to rotation at this point.

  Figures 15 to 17 illustrate certain ergonomic aspects of the input devices 14. Figure 15A illustrates that elements 16 and 18

  both have a substantially longitudinal axis 290 and 292 respectively.

  The longitudinal axes of elements 16 and 18, in order to obtain a more ergonomic neutral posture, have a slight angle of convergence. For example, the shaft 246 defines an axis illustrated generally by the reference numeral 294 in FIG. 15A. The axes 290 and 292 converge along a

  angle 296 with respect to a line generally perpendicular to the axis 294.

  The angle of convergence 296 is by way of illustration within a range of approximately 10 to 15 degrees and may further be approximately 12 degrees. Thus, the shape and the initial angle of convergence of the input device 14 give the user's wrist a wrist posture initially

36 2793045

  neutral. On average, the initial wrist posture for device 14 is

  approximately 14 degrees in extension and 8 degrees in ulnar distance.

  These values are within a neutral posture area for the wrist. Neutral wrist extension / flexion is in the range of approximately 0 degrees to 20 degrees in extension, while neutral wrist deviation is in the range of approximately

  0 degrees to 20 degrees of ulnar deviation.

  Figure 15B illustrates a number of spaces for receiving the inch width of North American males having inch widths between the 5th percentile and the 95th percentile. Thumb operated controls (such as the switch 30 cap and the buttons in the button array 28) have gaps which are configured to prevent inadvertent actuations. Therefore, the center-to-center spacing 300 of the buttons in the array of buttons 28 is by way of illustration within a range of approximately 18mm to 28mm, and may for example also be approximately 21mm. In addition, the center-to-center spacing 300 of the buttons in the array 28 is by way of illustration beyond about 13 mm and further is

  approximately 14.6 mm.

  In addition, the link 22 (or articulation mechanism) includes, by way of illustration, a surface 304 on which the thumb of the user's right hand can rest, when he does not actuate buttons in the network 28. The central region of the surface 304 also corresponds to the pivot location for the element 18 pivoting with respect to the axis 102. The distance 306 between the center of the network 28 with four buttons on the element 18 and the axis By way of illustration, the pivot 102 is in the range of approximately 7 mm to 47 mm. The distance 306 is furthermore by way of illustration included in a range of approximately 25 to 30 mm and

  may be approximately 27mm.

  The distance 308 from the pivot axis 102 to the center of the four-button array 28 is configured to receive the range of motion for conventional thumb swing. The distance 308 is by way of illustration included in a range of approximately 30 to 40 mm

  and may be approximately 34.6 mm.

  The steering block 30 also has a suitable size

37 2793045

  to males with an inch width between the 5th percentile and the th percentile, and is configured to avoid inadvertent actuations. Therefore, the cap switch 30 has a length 310 which is by way of illustration between approximately 20 and 30 mm and may be approximately 28.4 mm. In addition, the hat switch 30 has a width 312 which is for illustration purposes within a range of approximately 18 to 28 mm and may be approximately

22.5 mm.

  Figure 16A is a perspective view along a lower front side of the input device 14. FIG. 16A illustrates the fact that the devices for tightening by hand the elements 16 and 18 have a lower part 314 and 316 of cooperation with the fingers which is in a texture which increases the friction of tightening. This texture can be any friction-improving surface, such as a material with low durometry, having ribs within it, or plastic textured so as to

be rough.

  Figure 16B is a sectional view along line 16B-16B of Figure 16A. Figure 16B illustrates that the edges of the handle portion of the member 16 are rounded and in the shape of a convex arc which is configured

  to fit the concave arc of the palm region of the user's hand.

  Similarly, the overall diameter 320 of the handle portions is configured to be suitable for North American males having a palm size between the 5th percentile and the 95th percentile. Thus, the diameter 320 is by way of illustration included in a range of approximately 43 mm to 53 mm and may be approximately mm. Similarly, the line measurement of the periphery (or external periphery) of the handle parts of elements 16 and 18 is by way of illustration between approximately 120 and 145 mm, and can be

approximately 133 mm.

  Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view of the element 18 along the axis 292 shown in Figure 15A. The length 322 of the handle portion of the member 18 is for illustration configured to suit the palm width of North American males between the 5th percentile and the 95th percentile. Thus, the length 322 is by way of illustration greater than approximately 86 mm, and may also be greater than

38 2793045

  approximately 105 mm and further may be approximately 131 mm. FIG. 17 also better illustrates the fact that the elements 16 and 18 are implemented in a certain way in the form of a tightening device in the form of a pistol by the fact that its wrist parts extend towards the back and down from the pad area that supports the 28 button array and the hat switch 30. A distance 324 from the center of the four-button network 28 located on the element 18 to the end of the wrist portion of the element 18 is for illustration between

  approximately 90 and 100 mm and may be approximately 97.5 mm.

  The location of the trigger 32 is configured so that it can be actuated by the tip of the index finger when the hand and fingers are in a pistol grip configuration on the wrist part of the element 18. A distance 326 from the center of the four-button network 28 on element 18 to the front surface of the trigger 32 is suitable for North American males with finger lengths between the 5th percentile and the 95th percentile. This is accomplished by allowing the small end of the target population to reach the surface of the trigger 32 when the hand is in a pistol grip position. Thus, the distance 326 is less than approximately 45 mm, and may be less than approximately 35 mm, and may furthermore be approximately

33.5 mm.

  In addition, the weight of the device 14 is by way of illustration small enough that the device can be used for an extended period of time without creating noticeable user fatigue. Thus, in an embodiment given by way of illustration, the device 14 has a weight of between approximately 225 and 345 g. The device 14 can

  also weigh approximately 284 g.

  Conclusion Thus, the present invention is directed to a user input device to a computer which has two elements which can rotate and can be articulated with respect to each other and provide a signal which is an indication of this movement. The present invention by way of illustration allows displacement between two or more displacement domains which is detected and can be used to modify the characteristics of

39 2793045

  behavior of an object that is displayed. Similarly, the device is configured with its components which have dimensions and shapes which

  allow ergonomic actuation.

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that modifications can be made in form and detail without

  go beyond the spirit and scope of the invention.

  According to the invention, the computer input device comprises a first handle; a second handle movably coupled to the first handle; a sensor operatively coupled to the first and second handles and configured to provide a position signal which is an indication of a position of the first and second handles relative to each other and a controller coupled to the sensor and configured to provide computer input which is an indication

  position based on the position signal.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first handle is movable relative to the second handle in a first area of movement comprising a plurality of zones, and further comprising: a first connecting part coupled to at least one of the first handle and second handle, the first link portion providing tactile feedback when the first handle transitions from a first of the plurality of zones to a second of the plurality

zones.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first connecting part comprises: a first resistance mechanism configured to provide a first resistance to displacement as the handle is

moves to the first area.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first connecting part comprises: a second resistance mechanism configured to provide a second resistance to displacement as the first

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  handle moves into the second area.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first

  resistance is a substantially constant resistance.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the second resistance is a variable resistance which changes as the

  first handle moves into the second area.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first resistance mechanism is configured to provide a viscous resistance

on the move.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first handle can pivot relative to the second handle relative to a first axis of rotation on the first area of movement, the first zone being located in a region situated generally centrally from the first

displacement area.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first connecting part comprises: a third resistance mechanism configured to provide a third increasing resistance to displacement as the first handle moves in a third zone of the plurality of

zones.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the third resistance mechanism is configured to provide the third resistance as a variable resistance which changes as the

  first handle moves into the third area.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first zone is located between the second and the third zone along the first area of movement. According to an improvement of the invention, the first handle can pivot relative to the second handle relative to a second axis of rotation, in a second displacement domain comprising a plurality of zones, and further comprising: a second connecting part coupled to at least one of the first and second handles and providing tactile feedback as the first handle transitions from a first zone of the plurality of zones to a second zone of the plurality of zones in the

41 2793045

second area of displacement.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the second connecting part comprises: a first resistance mechanism configured to provide a first resistance to displacement as the first handle moves in the first zone in the second domain of displacement. According to an improvement of the invention, the second connecting part comprises: a second resistance mechanism configured to provide a second resistance to displacement as the first handle moves in the second zone in the second domain of displacement. According to an improvement of the invention, the first resistance is a viscous resistance substantially constant to displacement. According to an improvement of the invention, the second resistance is a variable resistance which changes as the first handle moves in the second zone in the second domain

of displacement.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first handle can pivot relative to the second handle relative to a first axis in the second range of movement, the first zone being located in a region located substantially centrally of the second range of

displacement.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the second connecting part comprises: a third resistance mechanism configured to provide variable resistance to displacement as the first handle moves in a third zone of the plurality of zones in the

second area of displacement.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first zone is located between the second and the third zone along the second displacement domain. According to an improvement of the invention, the first part of

42 2793045

  connection comprises: a first shaft rigidly coupled to one of the first handle and the second handle and the first shaft being coupled in rotation to the other of the first handle and the second handle, the first shaft defining the first axis of rotation. According to an improvement of the invention, the second connecting part comprises: a second shaft rigidly coupled to another of the first and of the second handle and coupled in rotation to the other of the first and of the

  second handle and defining the second axis of rotation.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first connecting part comprises: a first cam assembly comprising a cam and a cam follower coupled between the first shaft and the second handle, in which the cam follower cooperates with a cam surface on the cam as the first handle transitions from the first

  zone to the second zone in the first displacement domain.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the second connecting part comprises: a second cam assembly comprising a cam and a cam follower coupled between the first and second handles, in which the cam follower cooperates with a cam surface on the cam as the first handle transitions from the first zone to

  the second zone in the second displacement domain.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first and second handles each comprise a plurality of input devices which can be actuated by an operator, each providing a signal

  which is an indication of its actuation.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first shaft has a light-shaped opening, and in which the input devices which can be actuated by the operator on one of the first and second handles are electrically coupled to electrical circuits on the other of the first and second handles by a cable harness, the cable harness extending through the light in the first

tree.

43 2793045

  According to an improvement of the invention, the sensor comprises: a first sensor configured to detect a position of the first handle relative to the second handle in the first displacement range and to provide a first position signal which is an indication of this this; and a second sensor configured to detect a position of the first handle relative to the second handle in the second displacement range and to provide a second position signal which is an indication

of it.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the control device is configured to provide an output to the computer which is an indication of whether the first handle is in the first zone or the second zone both in the first and the second areas of

  displacement, based on the first and second position signals.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the computer input device comprises: a first handle; a second handle; a coupled link between the first and second handles so that the first handle can pivot relative to the second handle relative to a first axis of rotation over a range of motion in a range of approximately 40 to 100 degrees of travel from to the first axis of rotation; a sensor operatively coupled to the first and second handles and configured to provide a position signal which is an indication of a position of the first and second handles relative to each other; and a controller coupled to the sensor and configured to provide a computer input which is an indication of the position on the base

of the position signal.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the link is coupled between the first and the second handles, so that the first handle can pivot relative to the second handle relative to the first axis of rotation over a displacement range of approximately 80 degrees of

44 2793045

  race. According to an improvement of the invention, the link is coupled between the first and the second handles, so that the first handle can pivot relative to the second handle relative to a second axis of rotation on a range of movement included in a range of approximately 40 to 100 degrees of travel from the second axis of rotation. According to an improvement of the invention, the link is coupled between the first and the second handles, so that the first handle can pivot relative to the second handle relative to the second axis of rotation over a displacement range of approximately 80 degrees of stroke. According to an improvement of the invention, the first and second handles each define a longitudinal axis, and each longitudinal axis is disposed at a converging angle relative to a line perpendicular to the first axis of rotation, the convergence angle being

  between approximately 8 and 16 degrees.

  According to an improvement of the invention, each angle of

  convergence is approximately 12 degrees.

  According to an improvement of the invention, it further comprises: a first region forming a control pad disposed on the first handle comprising a first plurality of actuators; a second control pad region disposed on the second handle and having a second plurality of actuators; and the first and second handles for first and

  second regions forming control pad respectively.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first and second handles hang from the first and second regions forming a control pad respectively of a length greater than approximately

86 mm.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first and second handles hang from the first and second regions forming a block of

  order respectively of a length of approximately 131 mm.

  According to an improvement of the invention, a center of the

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  first plurality of actuators is offset substantially forward relative to the first axis of rotation by a length between

approximately 7 and 47 mm.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the center of the first plurality of actuators is offset substantially forward with respect to the first axis of rotation by a length of approximately

27 mm.

  According to an improvement of the invention, it further comprises: at least a first trigger located forward on the first handle and at a distance from a center of the first plurality

  actuators, the distance being less than approximately 43 mm.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first trigger is located forward on the first handle and at a distance from the center of the first plurality of actuators at a distance

approximately 33.5 mm.

  According to an improvement of the invention, each of the first and second handles has a diameter between

approximately 43 and 53 mm.

  According to an improvement of the invention, each of the

  first and second handles have a diameter of approximately 45 mm.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the second plurality of actuators comprises an actuator with multiple switches having a length in a direction generally parallel to the second axis

  longitudinal between approximately 20 and 30 mm.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the length of

  the multi-switch actuator is approximately 28.4 mm.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the actuator with multiple switches has a width of between approximately 18

and 28 mm.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the width of

  the multi-switch actuator is approximately 22.5mm.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first handle has a thumb rest part and a center of the first plurality of actuators is spaced from a central region of the rest part of the thumb.

46 2793045

  thumb, in a direction substantially coinciding with the stroke of the thumb,

  between approximately 30 and 40 mm.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the thumb rest part is at a distance from the central region of the thumb rest part, in a direction which substantially coincides with the stroke of the thumb,

approximately 34.6 mm.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first handle comprises a finger cooperation part comprising a surface

* improving friction.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the computer input device comprises: a first element; a movable handle coupled to the first element and movable relative to the first element on a displacement domain comprising a plurality of zones; a sensor operatively coupled to the first member and the handle and configured to provide a position signal which is an indication of a position of the first member and the handle relative to each other; a first link portion coupled to at least one of the first member and the handle and providing tactile feedback as the handle transitions from a first area of the plurality of areas to a second area of the plurality of zones; and a controller coupled to the sensor and configured to provide a computer input which is an indication of the position on the base

of the position signal.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first connecting part comprises: a first resistance mechanism configured to provide a first resistance to displacement as the handle is

moves to the first area.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first connecting part comprises: a second resistance mechanism configured to provide a second resistance to displacement as the handle is

moves to the second zone.

47 2793045

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first

  resistance is a substantially constant resistance.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the second resistance is a variable resistance which varies as the handle moves in the second zone. According to an improvement of the invention, the first resistance mechanism is configured to provide a viscous resistance

on the move.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the handle can pivot relative to the first element with respect to a first axis of rotation in the first area of movement, the first zone being in a region located substantially centrally from the first

displacement area.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first connecting part comprises: a third resistance mechanism configured to provide a third resistance to displacement as the first

  handle moves in a third area of the plurality of areas.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the third resistance mechanism is configured to provide the third resistance in the form of a variable resistance which changes as and when

  the handle moves to the third area.

  According to an improvement of the invention, the first zone is located between the second and the third zone along the first area of

displacement.

Claims (59)

  1. A computer input device (14), characterized in that it comprises: a first handle (18); a second handle (16) movably coupled to the first handle (18); a sensor operatively coupled to the first and second handles (16, 18) and configured to provide a position signal which is an indication of a position of the first and second handles (16, 18) relative to each other; and a controller coupled to the sensor and configured to provide computer input which is an indication   position based on the position signal.   2. A computer input device (14) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first handle (18) is movable relative to the second handle (16) in a first area of movement comprising a plurality of zones, and further comprising: a first link portion (22) coupled to at least one of the first handle and the second handle, the first link portion (22) providing tactile feedback when the first handle (16) performs a transition from a first of the plurality of zones to a second of the plurality of zones.   3. Device (14) for computer input according to claim 2, characterized in that the first connecting part (22) comprises: a first resistance mechanism configured to provide a first resistance to displacement as and the handle is 49 2793045 moves to the first area.   4. A computer input device (14) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first connecting part (22) comprises: a second resistance mechanism configured to provide a second resistance to displacement as and when the first one   handle (18) moves in the second zone.   5. A computer input device (14) according to claim 4, characterized in that the first resistance is a substantially constant resistance. 6. Device (14) for computer input according to claim 5, characterized in that the second resistance is a variable resistance which changes as the first handle moves in the second zone.   7. A computer input device (14) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first resistance mechanism is configured to   provide a viscous resistance to displacement.   8. A computer input device (14) according to claim 4, characterized in that the first handle (18) can pivot relative to the second handle (16) relative to a first axis (102) of rotation on the first displacement domain, the first zone being located in a region situated generally centrally of the first displacement domain. 9. A computer input device (14) according to claim 8, characterized in that the first connecting part (22) comprises: a third resistance mechanism configured to provide a third increasing resistance to displacement as and when that the first handle moves into a third area of the plurality of areas. 10. A computer input device (14) according to claim 9, characterized in that the third resistance mechanism is configured to provide the third resistance as a variable resistance which changes as the first handle (18) moves in the third zone.   11. Computer input device (14) according to claim 9, characterized in that the first zone is located between the second and the 2793045   third zone along the first displacement domain.   12. A computer input device (14) according to claim 8, characterized in that the first handle (18) can pivot relative to the second handle (16) relative to a second axis (106) of rotation, in a second movement domain having a plurality of zones, and further comprising: a second connecting portion coupled to at least one of the first and second handles and providing tactile feedback as the first handle transitions from a first zone of the plurality of zones to a second zone of the plurality of zones in the second area of displacement.   13. A computer input device (14) according to claim 12, characterized in that the second connecting part (22) comprises: a first resistance mechanism (22) configured to provide a first resistance to displacement as and as the first handle moves in the first area in the second range of motion. 14. A computer input device (14) according to claim 13, characterized in that the second connecting part comprises: a second resistance mechanism configured to provide a second resistance to displacement as the first handle moves in the second zone in the second displacement domain. 15. Device (14) for computer input according to claim 14, characterized in that the first resistance is a viscous resistance   substantially constant at displacement.   16. A computer input device (14) according to claim 14, characterized in that the second resistance is a variable resistance which changes as the first handle moves in the   second zone in the second displacement domain.   17. A computer input device (14) according to claim 14, characterized in that the first handle (16) can pivot relative to the second handle relative to a first axis in the second range of movement, the first area being located in a region located   substantially centrally from the second displacement domain. 51 2793045   18. A computer input device (14) according to claim 17, characterized in that the second connecting part comprises: a third resistance mechanism configured to provide variable resistance to displacement as the first handle moves into a third area of the plurality of areas in the second area of displacement.   19. A computer input device (14) according to claim 18, characterized in that the first zone is located between the second and the   third zone along the second displacement domain.   20. A computer input device (14) according to claim 12, characterized in that the first connecting part (22) comprises: a first shaft rigidly coupled to one of the first handle and the second handle and the first shaft being coupled in rotation to the other of the first handle and the second handle, the first shaft   defining the first axis of rotation.   21. A computer input device (14) according to claim, characterized in that the second connecting part comprises: a second shaft rigidly coupled to another of the first and of the second handle and coupled in rotation to the other of the first and the   second handle and defining the second axis of rotation.   22. Computer input device (14) according to claim 21, characterized in that the first connecting part comprises: a first cam assembly comprising a cam and a cam follower coupled between the first shaft and the second handle , wherein the cam follower cooperates with a cam surface on the cam as the first handle transitions from the first   zone to the second zone in the first displacement domain.   23. A computer input device (14) according to claim 22, characterized in that the second connecting part comprises: a second cam assembly comprising a cam and a cam follower coupled between the first and second handles, in which the cam follower cooperates with a cam surface on the cam as the first handle transitions from the first zone to   the second zone in the second displacement domain.   24. Computer input device (14) according to claim 52 2793045   , characterized in that the first and second handles each have a plurality of operator actuable input devices, each providing an actuation signal which is a indication of its actuation.   25. A computer input device (14) according to claim 24, characterized in that the first shaft has a light-shaped opening, and in which the input devices can be actuated by the operator on the one of the first and second handles are electrically coupled to electrical circuits on the other of the first and second handles by a cable harness, the cable harness extending by   the light in the first tree.   26. A computer input device (14) according to claim 12, characterized in that the sensor comprises: a first sensor configured to detect a position of the first handle relative to the second handle in the first range of movement and providing a first position signal which is an indication thereof; and a second sensor configured to detect a position of the first handle relative to the second handle in the second displacement range and to provide a second position signal which is an indication of it.   27. A computer input device (14) according to claim 26, characterized in that the control device is configured to provide an output to the computer which is an indication of whether the first handle is in the first zone or the second zone in both the first and the second displacement domains, based on the first and second position signals.   28. A computer input device (14), characterized by comprising: a first handle; a second handle; a coupled link between the first and second handles so that the first handle can pivot relative to the second handle relative to a first axis of rotation over a range of motion in a range of approximately 40 to 100 degrees of travel from at 53 2793045   first axis of rotation a sensor operatively coupled to the first and second handles and configured to provide a position signal which is an indication of a position of the first and second handles relative to each other; and a controller coupled to the sensor and configured to provide a computer input which is an indication of the position on the base of the position signal.   29. A computer input device (14) according to claim 28, characterized in that the connection is coupled between the first and the second handles, so that the first handle can pivot relative to the second handle relative to the first axis of rotation on a domain   displacement of approximately 80 degrees of travel.   30. A computer input device (14) according to claim 28, characterized in that the connection is coupled between the first and the second handles, so that the first handle can pivot relative to the second handle relative to a second axis of rotation over a range of displacement comprised in a range of approximately 40 to   degrees of travel relative to the second axis of rotation.   31. A computer input device (14) according to claim, characterized in that the link is coupled between the first and the second handles, so that the first handle can pivot relative to the second handle relative to the second axis of rotation on a domain   displacement of approximately 80 degrees of travel.   32. A computer input device (14) according to claim 28, characterized in that the first and second handles each define a longitudinal axis, and each longitudinal axis is arranged at a converging angle relative to a line perpendicular to the first axis of rotation, the angle of convergence being between approximately 8 and 16degrees.   33. A computer input device (14) according to claim 28, characterized in that each angle of convergence is approximately 12 degrees.   34. A computer input device (14) according to claim 28, characterized in that it further comprises: 54 2793045   a first control pad region disposed on the first handle having a first plurality of actuators; a second control pad region disposed on the second handle and having a second plurality of actuators; and the first and second handles for first and   second regions forming control pad respectively.   35. A computer input device (14) according to claim 34, characterized in that the first and second handles hang from the first and second regions forming a control pad respectively   of a length greater than approximately 86 mm.   36. A computer input device (14) according to claim, characterized in that the first and second handles hang from the first and second regions forming a control pad respectively   with a length of approximately 131 mm.   37. A computer input device (14) according to claim 34, characterized in that a center of the first plurality of actuators is offset substantially forward relative to the first axis of rotation of a   length between approximately 7 and 47 mm.   38. A computer input device (14) according to claim 37, characterized in that the center of the first plurality of actuators is offset substantially forward relative to the first axis of rotation of a length of approximately 27 mm.   39. A computer input device (14) according to claim 34, characterized in that it further comprises: at least a first trigger located forward on the first handle and at a distance from a center of the first plurality   actuators, the distance being less than approximately 43 mm.   40. Computer input device (14) according to claim 39, characterized in that the first trigger is located forward on the first handle and at a distance from the center of the first plurality   actuators at a distance of approximately 33.5 mm.   41. A computer input device (14) according to claim 28, characterized in that each of the first and second handles has a   diameter between approximately 43 and 53 mm.   42. A computer input device (14) according to claim 2793045   41, characterized in that each of the first and second handles has a   diameter of approximately 45 mm.   43. Computer input device (14) according to claim 34, characterized in that the second plurality of actuators comprises an actuator with multiple switches having a length in a direction generally parallel to the second longitudinal axis between approximately 20 and 30 mm.   44. Computer input device (14) according to claim 43, characterized in that the length of the actuator with switches   multiples is approximately 28.4 mm.   45. Computer input device (14) according to claim 43, characterized in that the multi-switch actuator has a width   between approximately 18 and 28 mm.   46. Computer input device (14) according to claim 45, characterized in that the width of the multi-switch actuator is approximately 22.5 mm.   47. A computer input device (14) according to claim 34, characterized in that the first handle has a thumb rest portion and a center of the first plurality of actuators is spaced from a central region of the thumb rest part, in a direction substantially coinciding with the stroke of the thumb, between approximately 30 and 40 mm.   48. Computer input device (14) according to claim 47, characterized in that the thumb rest part is at a distance from the central region of the thumb rest part, in a direction which substantially coincides with the thumb stroke, approximately 34.6 mm.   49. A computer input device (14) according to claim 28, characterized in that the first handle has a part of   cooperation of fingers comprising a surface improving friction.   50. A computer input device (14), characterized in that it comprises: a first element; a movable handle coupled to the first element and movable relative to the first element on a displacement domain comprising a 56 2793045   plurality of zones a sensor operatively coupled to the first member and the handle and configured to provide a position signal which is an indication of a position of the first member and the handle relative to each other; a first link portion coupled to at least one of the first member and the handle and providing tactile feedback as the handle transitions from a first area of the plurality of areas to a second area of the plurality of zones; and a controller coupled to the sensor and configured to provide a computer input which is an indication of the position on the base of the position signal.   51. A computer input device (14) according to claim, characterized in that the first connecting part comprises: a first resistance mechanism configured to provide a first resistance to displacement as the handle is moved moves to the first area.   52. A computer input device (14) according to claim 51, characterized in that the first connecting part comprises: a second resistance mechanism configured to provide a second resistance to movement as the handle is moved moves to the second zone.   53. A computer input device (14) according to claim 52, characterized in that the first resistor is a resistor substantially constant.   54. A computer input device (14) according to claim 53, characterized in that the second resistance is a variable resistance   which varies as the handle moves into the second zone.   55. Computer input device (14) according to claim, characterized in that the first resistance mechanism is configured   to provide a viscous resistance to displacement.   56. A computer input device (14) according to claim 52, characterized in that the handle can pivot relative to the first element relative to a first axis of rotation in the first range of movement, the first zone being in a region   substantially centrally from the first displacement domain. 57 2793045   57. A computer input device (14) according to claim 56, characterized in that the first connecting part comprises: a third resistance mechanism configured to provide a third resistance to displacement as the first handle moves into a third area of the plurality of areas. 58. A computer input device (14) according to claim 57, characterized in that the third resistance mechanism is configured to provide the third resistance in the form of a variable resistance which changes as and when the handle moves into the third zoned.   59. A computer input device (14) according to claim 57, characterized in that the first zone is located between the second and the   third zone along the first displacement domain.